Fire-kindler.



A. W. LUCAS.

FIRE KINDLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 1915.

1,199,999. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

Qffouwt S mr mmms PETERS co. mannmunw WASHING mm a. c.

Area ion ANDERSON W. LUCAS, 0F WAVERLY, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR T0 THEO. LUCAS, OF

' WAVERLY, TENNESSEE.

FIRE-KINDLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDERSON IV. LUoAs', a citizen of the United States of America,

and a resident of Waverly, Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Kindlers, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates especially to firewe The object of the invention is to provide a fife-kindler of this sort which is not only effective in its action, but which is also capable of being cheaply manufactured principally from materials which would otherwise be waste.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated three embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited 'to the exact forms shown, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing still another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a view showing in detail the shavings of which the fire-kindlers are principally constructed.

Referring. to the drawings, especially Fig. 1,the fire-kindler as a whole is represented by 1, the kindler being preferably cylindrical inshape as shown, although this exact form is not essential. The length of the kindler is preferably considerably greater than any other dimension, such as the diameter, thus adapting it to be easily handled and easily inserted into a stove, grate or furnace with other fuel when required.

The kindler comprises a bundle of long shred-like wood-shavings 2, which are matted together and interlaced, the shavings being preferably arranged in the main longitudinally of the bundle. The matted and interlaced shavings are compressed into the shape shown, to form a mass of substantially uniform density throughout. In constructing the kindler, use can advantageously be made of the shavings that are formed in the turning of spokes for wagon and automobile wheels, these shavings being long and splinter-like or shred-like in character and quite different from the common planing-mill shavings which are merely short brittle chips. The shavings, because of their long shred-like character, become matted and interlaced together and entangled in such" a way that they cohere with considerable tenacity, strongly resisting any force tending to pull a mass of them apart. Ordinary shavingswould not mat and entangle in the way described.

The shavings are compressed as aforesaid into a suitable bundle, preferably cylindrical as shown, and, while compressed, a suitable binding means is applied, the binding means beingcombustible so that it will be destroyed when the bundle is ignited. The kindler 1 shown in Fig. 1 has binding means in the form of separated circumferential, cords 3 without any connection between them.

The 'kindler 1? shown in Fig. 2 has binding means consisting of a cord arrangement in which there are not only cord-sections 3 '3 extending'around the bundle, but also cord-sections 3 3 extending longitudinally of the bundle between the several sections 53*. Preferably there is also a cord-section 3 extending-around one end of the bundle. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 2, the several cord-sections, 3?, 3 and 3 are formed of a' single piece of cord arranged as shown.

In Fig; 3, there is shown a kindler 1 which differs from the kindlers shown inFigs. 1 and 2 in that the binding means consists primarily of combustible paper extending circumferentially around the bundle. Preferably, the paperis in the form of a relatively narrow strip 8* wound-spirally so that the strip at each turn overlaps the edge of the preced ing turn. The overlappededges of the paper may, if desired, be glued, as indicated at 4. When unusual strength is required, a combustible cord 5 may be spirally wound around the bundle, so as to lie between the overlapped edges of the paper and to be held by the glue at4. The cord 5, when used, makes it possible to use ali'ghter-and cheaper paper than would otherwise be necessary.

The binding means serves to maintain the bundle in its initial shape, to prevent its opening while awaiting use. As before stated, the binding means is combustible, and the result is that, when the bundle is ignited, the binding means is destroyed, thus releasing the compressive force on the bundle and allowing it'to open or expand because of the elasticity of the shavings, thus admitting air to the interior of the bundle and facilitating rapid combustion.

Either before or after being placed in the bundle, the shavings are impregnated with oil or other substance adapted to add to the inflammability of the kindler.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the kindlers are relatively small in size, a length of about nine inches and a diameter of about two and a half inches being suitable for the majority of cases. WVhen the kindler is to be used, it is inserted bodily into the stove, grate or furnace and the other fuel to be ignited is placed around it. When a suflicient quantity is in place, the kindler is ignited by any suitable means and burns rapidly. Very soon after ignition, the binding means, which may be either cord or paper, or both, as already described, is burned so as to release the compressive force on the bundle. The elasticity of the shavings is such as to immediately cause expansion of the bundle after the releasing of the compressive force. This expansion permits the free flow of air into the interior of the bundle, thus facilitating and maintaining the rapid combustion. Because of the rapid combustion which is made possible by the peculiar construction that I provide, intense heat is developed which quickly and surely ignites the other fuel.

hat is claimed is 1. A fire-kindler having its length considerably greater than its other dimensions and comprising in combination a compressed bundle of long shred-like matted and interlaced wood shavings, and flexible combustible binding means under tension and extending circumferentially around the bundle, and being at all points along its inner side in engagement with the bundle and at all points along its outer side exposed to the atmosphere, the said kindler being adapted to be bodily inserted into a stove, grate or furnace and ignited and being automatically expansible when the binding means is burned following ignition thus permitting theshavings to separate and burn to the best advantage.

2. A fire-kindler having its length considerably greater than its other dimensions and comprising in combination a compressed bundle of long shred-like oileimpregnated matted and interlaced wood shavings, and flexible combustible binding means under tension and extending circumferentially around the bundle, and being at all points along its inner side in engagement withthe bundle and at all points along its outer side exposed to the atmosphere, the

said kindler being adapted to be bodily inserted into a stove, grate or furnace and ignited and being automatically expansible when the binding means is burned following ignition thus permitting the shavings to separate and burn to the best advantage.

3. A fire-kindler comprising in combination a compressed uniformly dense cylindrical bundle of long shred-like matted and interlaced wood shavings, and flexible combustible binding means under tension and extending circumferentially around the bundle, and being at all points along its inner side in engagement with the bundle and at all points along its outer side exposed to the atmosphere, the said kindlerbeing adapted to be bodily inserted into a stove, grate or furnace and ignited.

l. A fire-kindler comprising in combination a compressed bundle of long shred-like wood shavings chiefly longitudinally arranged, and flexible combustible binding means under tension and extending circumferentially around the bundle, and being at all points along its inner side in engagement with the bundle and at all points along its outer side exposed to the atmosphere, the said kindler being adaptedto be bodily inserted into a stove, grate or furnace and ignited and being automatically expansible when the binding means is burned following ignition thus permitting the shavings to separate and burn to the best advantage.

5. A fire-kindler comprising in combination a compressed cylindrical bundle of long shred-like matted and interlaced wood shavings, and combustible paper under tension and extending circumferentially around the'bundle to bind it, the said kindler being adapted to be bodily inserted into a stove, grate or furnace and ignited and being automatically expansible when the paper is burned following ignition thus permitting the shavings to separate and burn to the best advantage.

6. A fire-kindler having its length considerably greater than its other dimensions and comprising in combination a compressed bundle of long shred-like matted and interlaced wood shavings, and a combustible binding cord under tension extending around the bundle, the said cord throughout its length closely following the surface of the bundle and conforming thereto, the said kindler being adapted to be bodily inserted into a stove, grate or furnace and ignited and being automatically expansible when the cord is burned following ignition thus permitting the shavings to separate and burn to the best advantage.

7. A fire-kindler comprising in combination a compressed cylindrical bundle of long shred-like matted and interlaced wood shavings, a combustible binding cord under tension extending around the bundle, and

serted into a stove, grate or furnace and ignited.

8. A fire-kindler comprising in combination a compressed cylindrical bundle of long shred-like matted and interlaced Wood shavings, and a strip of combustible binding paper under tension spirally Wound around the bundle and serving to hold it compressed.

9. A fire-kindler comprising in combination a compressed cylindrical bundle of long shred-like matted and interlaced Wood shavings, and a strip of combustible binding paper under tension spirally wound around the bundle With each turn overlapping the edge of the preceding one, the said paper serving to hold the bundle compressed.

10. A fire-kindler comprising in combination a compressed cylindrical bundle of long shred-like matted and interlaced Wood shavings, a strip of combustible binding paper spirally Wound around the bundle With each turn overlapping the edge of the preceding one, and a combustible cord spirally Wound around the bundle and positioned between the overlapped edge of the strip of paper.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents, Washington, D. G. 

